That was singularly the most......

[Jonad724]

Difficult thing I have ever done with the exception of recovering from viral meningitis. After 10 months of training and 10 years of struggle since the near fatal attack I have completed a half ironman triathlon.

The after effects I was left with meant that I had to have an extended period without being able to take part in vigorous exercise, having been a triathlete for over twelve years, to let them settle down. After five years, my neurologist told me, if they hadn't disappeared I was stuck with them and I am.

OK so here's the science and not so pleasant bits of what I've been left with: irritable bladder syndrome linked to changes to my metabolism, I can't drink alcohol, I developed an intolerance to cocoa four years ago, I am intolerant to phenylalanine (found in diet and sports drinks), I have Mollaret's Meningitis which causes the illness to flare up again although I'm not sure what triggers the attacks, I have a constant dull headache, my short term memory for names and route directions has largely been eliminated and I get tired and run down if I try to pack too much into too few days. Basically I am falling apart!

At this point I think I should point out that I am not a super fit athletic type. I run 6 miles in the time quite a few people run a half marathon, I creak and groan on a bike, my kid's Wii Fit registered me as 'Homer Simpson' and talking scales scream with terror when I get within ten feet of them.

Training for me meant taking things in baby steps and building up slowly. Slowly and progressively I was able to build up to longer runs, longer bike rides and longer swims. There were setbacks like viruses which seem to affect me more than they used to before I had VM. Indeed the weekend before the half ironman I had a cold so bad I couldn't get off the sofa and really doubted I'd make the start line the following Sunday.

Race day dawned after the hottest day of the year and with predicted temperatures of 32 degrees centigrade. Heat and a constant headache really don't mix but I have trained whenever we've had hot days and done other outside stuff like gardening when it has been warm to try and acclimatise. The problem with the British summer is working out on which two days it falls and this year it was clearly 18th/19th August, doh!

At 3.45 a.m. having had a breakfast likely to cause a Weight Watchers calorie counter to explode, I woke my family and we travelled to the venue. Everything was sorted, wetsuit on and into the River Great Ouse (could have been worse it could have been the River Pus I suppose) for the start. If you've never seen one an open water swim start in a triathlon is akin to 250 people swimming in a washing machine. 41 minutes and several bruises later I'm out and onto the 56 mile bike ride with the mercury already at 27 degrees C. After 20 miles I realised that my race saddle wasn't designed for long distances as my very sore backside took my mind off the heat, headache and aching limbs.

Three and a half hours later and I'm back into transition and out on to the half marathon with my coach (Peter Bryan who is working towards his level 3 coaching exam and needed a student) shouting encouragement at me and that I had four hours to finish in (everyone has to complete the race in 8.5 hours otherwise they are pulled out). At this point I must pay tribute to Peter who provided me with training plans, nutrition strategy, race tactics and the destruction of the extreme self doubt which at times set in. I had planned to run/walk the half marathon and did so which was good as it was 34 degrees in the sun.

I crossed the line in 7 hours 37 minutes and 48 seconds having consumed 4.5 litres of fluids (water and carb drinks) and used around 7,000 calories. So if you're listening viral meningitis (pay attention at the back) here's two fingers to you and the limitations you have placed upon me. I have completed the second most gruelling one day sporting event in the world (Full Ironman takes the title) intact and alive. OK so two days later I still can't walk very far and I have been so badly sunburnt I look like an inverted bar code even when I used factor 50 but you know what, I don't care. I have proven to myself and the viral meningitis sufferer community that even with life changing side effects if you put your mind to it and give it enough time the world is yours for the taking. I was going to say the world is your oyster but I can't eat them either.

If you want to sponsor me you can here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fu... Thank You!

[RichardMN]

Huge congratulations on finishing the race. You must be absolutely delighted with the result as it's a huge achievement.

I'll pass on the news to people within the Trust.

Many, many congratulations.

Richard

[Jonad724 in reply to RichardMN]

Thanks Richard, that's very kind of you, I was delighted just to cross the line to be honest but to be well within the 8.5 hour cut off time was just amazing. Trouble is I'm 50 next year so what can I do to celebrate that having done a half ironman? Full ironman? Nope not a chance, my wife has said if I talk about doing an Ironman she is going to slap me until I stop thinking about doing an Ironman! London Marathon maybe, not sure but whatever it is it will be in aid of the Trust, that's for sure!

[Blim]

Congratulations! What a fantastic achievement. You are such an inspiration. Hope you able to put your feet up for a well deserved rest.

[Jonad724 in reply to Blim]

Thanks Blim, you're very kind. I'm doing the London Triathlon on 21st September so its back on the training shortly after a three day break but I have had a rest courtesy of my coach, he's all heart!

[Vespalover]

Well done! Incredible achievement!

Tell me, how do you deal with your headaches?

I suffered VM in April and am trying to get back to some sort of fitness. I used to play hockey at a National level and really want to get fit again but every time I go out and just do a leisurely cycle (ie not breathing through my mouth therefore not puffed out) I get a headache. Do you just push through it? Do you back off the pace? Take a rest for a week?

I do have to do something as my cholesterol has shot up since my VM as I am unable to do an exercise.

[Jonad724 in reply to Vespalover]

Thanks for your comment Vespalover. With the headaches I had to have a long time away from vigorous exercise to let the surface damage to my brain settle down on advice from my neurologist. You are still in the very early days following an attack and I think it largely depends on how serious it was but I think you have to think of your fitness like a computer hard disk that has been wiped. That's how it felt for me, I went from being a seasoned triathlete to barely being able to walk without getting tired in the space of two weeks.

I can only talk of my experience but the way I dealt with it after giving my body time to recover was to do gentle exercise starting with walking, light swimming and moderate cycling. As soon as I started to get tired or the headache got worse I stopped as I discovered if I didn't the fatigue would bite me later that day and I would be tired for days at a time. I found a heart rate monitor is a great way of gauging how hard I was working and I aimed to keep my heart rate around 20-30 beats above resting when I first came back to sport again. It is incredibly frustrating to be back to square one when fitness is something which you worked hard at and enjoyed but unfortunately it is one of those things you have to learn to accept and work around. Pushing through the headache or tiredness will, in my experience, just sent you backwards you have to listen to your body. It could be that your headache is being caused by your increased blood pressure and so might be an indication that you're pushing a little too hard so maybe back off a bit more and see how you get on?

I think there is a stage where the fitness starts to have a positive effect on how you feel but I'm afraid it might take time to get there and as i say this is incredibly frustrating but as I hope I have proven given time it can, at least for me, be overcome.

I hope this helps but I'm happy to help if you need more information, J

[daffodil]

Huge congratulations Jonathon -have sponsored you. As Ive said before ,your determination and achievment is inspirational especailly to those who may be in very early PostM days and are wondering if life will ever be the same or if they will ever be able to do the things they love again.Those of us who have suffered M know only too well the achievements you have made to train and complete the course while still suffering side effects.

Though I was no athlete before M I would love to be able to walk without my crutches,so thats my aim for years 5 onwards!

Thanks for this blog -its really witty and Ive enjoyed reading it.

[Jonad724 in reply to daffodil]

Thanks Daffodil and thank you for sponsoring me, I know the Meningitis Trust appreciate every penny donated and so do I!

My objective is now the London Triathlon on 21st September so I will try and keep the blog going with my progress towards that front. I'm 50 next year and having done a half ironman now I'm having a bit of a head scratch as to what to do next but it definitely isn't going to be a full Ironman. Technically speaking I could complete one in 15 hours, 2 1/2 hours under the cut off, but whilst I am sure I could do the training I'm not sure I will be married for too much longer if I did given the amount of time I would be out of home for.

I'm glad you appreciate the blog and thanks again for the sponsorship, it really makes everything worthwhile to see the Trust being supported. I don't think I was an athlete before I had VM but I suppose I can at least say I'm half an ironman even if I do look like a badly cooked lobster walking on stilts at the moment. Thanks again, Jonathan